Water Conservation

Ways to Reduce Water Use

There are many simple things that can be done to reduce water use:

• Minimise use of sprinklers or unattended flowing hoses. These use a huge amount of water - typically at least 15 litres of water a minute - that’s almost 1000 litres (a tonne of water!) per hour.
• Don't use a hose to wash down large areas of pavement, use a broom instead.
• Water lawns and gardens only where necessary, and water effectively, don't spray water in the middle of a hot day when it will evaporate.
• Don't let children play with hoses at times of peak demand for water.
• Use a bucket instead of a hose wherever possible.
• Don't leave taps running needlessly to waste.
• Take short showers rather than long showers or baths.
• Don't flush the toilet unless you really need to - particularly during times of peak demand for water.
• Install dual flush toilets, low-volume flow shower heads and other devices that use less water.
• If you have to do an activity that uses a great deal of water - such as water blasting a house or topping up a swimming pool - do it outside of the times when there is the highest demand for water.
• Fix leaking taps and pipes. Though the rate of leakage may be low, if it is for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year the amount of water cost can be large.
• Consider installing a water tank to catch roof water for later use watering the garden etc